Louise Mensch tells us the best and worst mistakes she ever made

Louise Mensch is many things all at once — a passionate fan of rock music, an outspoken conservative, a big supporter of women's achievements, and someone who is both witty and controversial (often on Twitter).

In one way, though, she is just like everyone else: She graduated from university into a tough and uncertain job market, and initially didn't know what she wanted to do with her life.

After paying her dues in the lower levels of PR, she excelled in three different careers, first in the music business, then as a best-selling novelist, and later as a Member of Parliament.

Here, she tells us the most important lessons she's learned along the way.